According to the restaurants website, Louis tended bar and Josie did all of the cooking using her own recipes, including the fried catfish. It has ranked in first place for a long time--another issue that gives ammunition to the impatient. You'll love this 3-step recipe and it's ready in less than 20-minutes! Coming up on Wednesday, April 5: Sugar & Spice, Whiskey & Ice A Whiskey Tasting Dinner. Three 6-ounce boneless, skinless catfish fillets, Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, Spillway Sauce, recipe follows, for serving, Sign up for the Food Network Shopping Newsletter Privacy Policy, The Key Food Moments You May Have Missed in The Last of Us, Peeps-Flavored Pepsi Makes Its Adorable Return, McDonalds Announces Its Next Celebrity Collab: Cardi B & Offsets Meal for Two, KitchenAids 2023 Color of the Year Is Hibiscus, Subway Will Now Be Slicing Meat Fresh at Each of Its Locations, 6 Best Whiskeys, According to a Spirits Expert, These Cord Organizers Save Your Kitchen From Clutter, 6 Best Food Dehydrators, Tested by Food Network Kitchen, 5 Best Cookie Sheets and Sheet Pans, Tested by Food Network Kitchen, 6 Best Air Fryer Toaster Ovens, Tested by Food Network Kitchen, Enter Daily for Your Chance to Win $10,000. This newcomer . There's nothing fancy or gourmet about my recipes-just easy, simple, delicious and memorable! This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. Thank you. In Oktober, our Oktoberfest celebration kicks off with authentic German dishes, also prepared by Chef Horst Pfeifer who grew up in Germany. There is no place we've visited with anything like the thin fried catfish served. Worth the drive! Hopefully I will get a response soon, if not, I'm double Dippin! more, You seem to have JavaScript disabled. I was disappointed and wish I had gotten the thick one. You have permission to edit this article. Whether youre Jack or Jill, Whiskey is for everyone. We like to call it Pfeifer Farm, and its a peaceful, happy place. Middendorf's: Thin-Fried Catfish is One of Many Delicious Options - See 564 traveler reviews, 220 candid photos, and great deals for Akers, LA, at Tripadvisor. Remove the fish from the freezer and use a boning knife to very carefully cut each fillet into thin pieces. First year attending their fettuccine frenzy and will also be our last. Coleslaw always goes well, as does Smothered Okra and Tomatoes, Maple Baked Beans, Pinto Beans and Rice and a heapin' bowl of Southern collard greens! To do that, we need But the goodness of its fried seafood can't be denied. Let it sit for a few minutes and you have buttermilk! Shallow-fry catfish pieces for 2 minutes on each side. Blake Pontchartrain: The story of the civil rights activists memorialized at Claiborne and Jackson avenues, Blakeview: Happy 90th birthday to Shirley Ann Grau, New Orleans novelist and Pulitzer winner, Get catfished in Slidell: Middendorf's opens a Slidell restaurant July 4. The area has a small pond and lots of room for our feathered friends to run. Both types can be used at Middendorf's Manchac and Middendorf's Slidell. Grill pea leaves until charred and tender. I think you'll find this simple method results in the best catfish breading - light, crispy and flavorful! Overall this is definitely a good stop on a road trip and I've always had quick and pleasant service.My video review of Middendorf's is here:youtu.be/T7PoiXP4bsQ. Oktoberfest runs every Wednesday and Thursday for 6 weeks. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil. Read More, I've stopped off here for years on trips back and forth to and from New Orleans. There will also be plenty of German Beer, costumes and live . You'll be glad you checked this place out. Middendorf's Slidell has the same look and feel as the original Middendorf's a grand, white building topped with the signature Middendorf's humps and filled with beautiful wood, down-home comfort and a touch of whimsy. It's my go to every time. Excellent! At times, it has also been home to ducks, geese and even turkeys. Wrap the cooked and cooled catfish fillets in foil and refrigerate. Discovery, Inc. or its subsidiaries and affiliates. For the Catfish:Toss catfish with salt and sugar. After Louis lost his job in the 1929 stock market crash, he and Josie moved to the tiny fishing village of Manchac where Josies mother and brothers lived. ), because you might not be able to get it quickly later. Try something different. And were plannin on being here for 40 more. Recipes; About; The Food Show; . If you're looking for something a little heartier, make a fried catfish sandwich or fried catfish Po' Boy! In this clip, Currence and Brock fry up some thin-fried catfish the signature dish at legendary New Orleans spot Middendorf's Seafood Restaurant where catfish are sliced. Catfish are bottom-feeders, meaning they swim on the bottom of the lake or reservoir floor. Louis and Josie were the entire staff. Catfish was great! Just get a hoagie bun, add a little Louisiana remoulade sauce or tartar sauce, some lettuce and a fried catfish fillet! Can you use the coating for other fish? They have thick and other seafoods like oysters, shrimp, etc.Awesome place. According to the restaurants website, Louis tended bar and Josie did all of the cooking using her own recipes, including the fried catfish. I'm Anecia, a native Texan, author, cook and photographer for SmartyPantsKitchen where I'm sharing Traditional and Contemporary Southern recipes for cooks of all levels. Remove catfish from oil and let drain on paper towels. Compliments you when you've had a bad day. If the darker color bother you, start over with new oil for each batch. If it doesn't sizzle, raise the temperature and re-test. If you have it in your files could you send it to me please? Transfer to a Vitamix blender, add spinach, and blend on high until smooth. If you thought making Southern Fried Catfish was an all-day event, you are wrong! In the 1970s, a second dining room with the vibe of a . 2019 was a big year for Middendorfs. Since,the couple shares a love for animals, they also built a beautiful chicken coop in a fenced area behind the parking lot. Middendorf's Restaurant. Copyright 20042023 Yelp Inc. Yelp, , and related marks are registered trademarks of Yelp. 3735 Ulloa St., 304-1471. Why do I need to soak the catfish in buttermilk? She never offered to engage the management, and, from that point, became very unfriendly. Although they have not strayed from the recipes and specialities that made Middendorfs famous, this energetic husband-wife team are always looking for fun and exciting things to add to the Middendorfs experience. In 2007, the restaurant was purchased from the family by Horst and Karen Pfeifer. Many other items on the menu. Middendorf's has also become famous for their six weeks of Oktoberfest celebrations that offer authentic German food every Wednesday and Thursday during October and November. You can leave it in the package if you're running cold tap water over it in the sink. Good sign. these links. Don't expect a healthy meal here. Been going here for almost 50 years. Add shallots, garlic, and ginger and saut until soft. It is mild-flavored and benefits greatly from a dip in the horseradish hot sauce provided." This is important and key to this recipe. Cut catfish into thin fillets. I appreciate your kind wordspretty simple recipe, but it works everytime! It definitely has a great atmosphere and is in a unique location. What a great recipe! Cooked catfish like this my whole life. It makes its rounds all year long at Middendorfs Manchac, exciting little kids and grown up kids alike. My favorites are the thin fried catfish and the crawfish cakes. 30160 Hwy 51 S., Akers (Manchac), LA 70421. ), The first batch always turns out lighter than the others because the oil is fresh. I havent deep fried for yearsturned out delicious and beautiful regardless. Flew into Bottom line, it was a terrible experience, which endangered my wife's immediate health, in a very serious way. If using frozen catfish, thaw fish first by rinsing in cold water in a colander or allowing to thaw in the refrigerator, Use a thermometer; internal temperature should be 145F. The family operated and expanded the place as its fame grew. For cod, I usually use a pub-style batter! Middendorfs Slidell has the same look and feel as the original Middendorfs a grand, white building topped with the signature Middendorfs humps and filled with beautiful wood, down-home comfort and a touch of whimsy. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. The story of Middendorfs Restaurant, how it came to be and its continued success, is one of perseverance and determination. Thanks. I say the thick, because it's about as thick as I remember the thin fish being when I first started eating there . It's always good with "the hubs" likes it:). The sign said "Food Exit 15", so I got off. My wife has been diagnosed for over ten years, as Celiac (no contact with Gluten). Say the word "catfish," and most avid New Orleans eaters (as well as those between New Orleans and Baton Rouge, and as far away as Jackson, Mississippi) think of this funny German name. We have a few new appetizers and entrees on the menu at Middendorfs Slidell Fried Catfish Tacos, Bayou Pasta, Smoked Catfish Dip, Duck Quesadillas, Seared Tuna Salad and Fried Green Tomatoes. Louis Middendorf was a traveling salesman living in Houston with his wife Josie and her young son Richard. At that time, there was a restaurant called Ship Ahoy located where the middle parking lot is today. Been going Of course, there is a ton of work involved in farm life, but Horst says its therapy. And after visiting and taking it all in, we totally get it. 85 years of fried catfish: A look at Middendorf's history, thin-cut fish that made it famous, Blake Pontchartrain: The story of the civil rights activists memorialized at Claiborne and Jackson avenues, Blakeview: Happy 90th birthday to Shirley Ann Grau, New Orleans novelist and Pulitzer winner, Get catfished in Slidell: Middendorf's opens a Slidell restaurant July 4. Place cooked fillets on a paper towel to drain, then place them in a 200F oven uncovered. Grill pea leaves until charred and tender. Bob Temp! Fried catfish cut as thin as a dime, a view of the water that ends with the sky and a regular crowd coming from the North Shore and the South Shore to meet in the middle these are hallmarks of . Hope it works. Get the thick fish, not the thin--at least the first time. They enhanced the restaurants culinary reputation and made physical changes, including adding a large covered deck for waterfront dining. Great recipe! CLICK HERE to purchase E-Gfit Cards. On Thursday, July 1, 2021 from 11am until 6pm, Middendorf's, in Manchac and Slidell, is hosting a blood drive that offers free thin fried catfish and an awesome t-shirt for all donors. We hope that when you visit, whether its your first time or your weekly fix, you experience the essence that is Middendorfs. Simple, 3-step recipe that's proven time and time again to work! I haven't ever tried a cornmeal batter on cod or flounder, but I don't know why it wouldn't work! Note, this catfish batter recipe contains no egg and no flour - just cornmeal and seasonings! Highly recommended! If it sizzles, it's hot enough. The Pfeifers are set to open a second location of Middendorfs in Slidell over the July 4th weekend. In a separate bowl, mix to combine cornmeal and cornstarch. 1 photo. I use a 10"inch cast-iron skillet and cook two fillets at a time. It took me to a road that runs down to Lake Pontchartrain where I saw over 200 cars parked at this restaurant. these links. Your email address will not be published. Remove to the prepared wire rack. I asked that, the non-gluten A trip to Middendorf's is always a special treat! They have some fantastic seafood and they are famous for The service staff is always been stressed, and while they deliver everything on time, they don't visit the table as much as you might expect. Thank you! Very very delicious!!! Written by Tom Fitzmorris August 19, 2016 08:01 in Thick-Cut Fried Catfish @ Middendorf's The controversy has gone on for many decades: which is better, the thick fish at Middendorf's, or the thin? Laing:1 tablespoon coconut oil1 shallot, sliced3 garlic cloves, slicedOne 1-inch piece of ginger, sliced1 red Thai chile1 tablespoon fermented Fresno hot sauce (or any hot sauce)1 can coconut milk1 cup cooked spinach, squeezed, Catfish:1 pound Maryland blue catfish, cut into -inch strips1 tablespoon salt1 tablespoon sugar cup cornmeal2 tablespoons cornstarchCanola oil for frying, To Assemble and Serve:1 cup pea leaves1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil1 tablespoon kimchi, chopped2 tablespoons pork floss1 teaspoon gochugaru. M. Perfect! Bring some vegetable oil to 350 degrees F in a deep-fryer or Dutch oven. Keep each filet chilled until you are ready. And post it to this group of course for other. This summer marks the 85th anniversary of a landmark that opened on Lake Maurepas at Pass Manchac: Middendorfs, the restaurant best known as the home of thin-cut fried catfish. The third generation sold Middendorf's to Chef Horst Pfeifer and his wife Karen, who owned the superb Bella Luna in the French Market until Katrina. Now you have buttermilk! Read More. Become a Gambit member today and help us continue our mission, For more upcoming events visit The Pfeifers are set to open a second location of Middendorfs in Slidell over the July 4th weekend. And go get yourself the Mittendorf Special!I grew up in Louisiana but had never been to Mittendorfs. I coat it twice with the cornmeal. Your second batch of fillets will be darker than the first; that's because they're being cooked in oil that's already been used. 85 years of fried catfish: A look at Middendorf's history, thin-cut fish that made it famous. To Assemble and Serve: In a small bowl, toss pea leaves with olive oil. Do not move the catfish fillets for the first 3-minutes; if you do, the coating will fall apart. Southern Fried Catfish is easy to make and this restaurant-quality recipe won't disappoint! Especially when it comes to fried catfish! Catfish fried in a tasty cornmeal batter, served with homemade tartar sauce. To use our mobile site, please enable JavaScript. Last Modified: Aug 29, 2022 by Anecia. Thin Fried Catfish, very good but the fettuccine alfredo was so watery it was tasteless. Quick - each fillet only takes about 5-minutes to fry Restaurant quality fried catfish fillets that actually have flavor Price and stock may change after publish date, and we may make money off Oktoberfest seems to be as much a part of Middendorf's now as our catfish." Oktoberfest at Middendorf's Slidell will be held every Friday for six weeks, Oktober 4, 2019 - November 8, 2019. For more than 40 years, Gambit has covered New Orleans, for New Orleans. If you can't get to Middendorf's in Louisiana, then this thin fried catfish recipe is the next best thing! Other questions:subscriberservices@theadvocate.com. Hubby says Its better than our go-to catfish spot. I'm a lucky guy. I'd skip the appetizer, not worth it. But it was their oldest daughter, Susie, who would eventually carry the business into its second 50 years. Combine cornmeal and corn flour in a large bowl. Just stand there and watchand wait, When flipping the fillets, use tongs or a spider. If the fish is wrapped in a sealed plastic package, remove it from the package before thawing in the fridge. Read More, Stop. If you "double dip" it (back and forth) between the cornmeal and buttermilk, your coating will be thicker. Their fried shrimp and boiled shrimp are also delicious. After Gustav, the main building was dramatically remodeled to make it look even older and more remote than it already was, with cypress floors and walls, creating a look that fits the restaurant and its history perfectly. In the process of making this right now, you said to coat twice and I'm Confused, do I dip the fish back into the buttermilk after I coat it with the cornmeal the first time? Middendorf's is the Mecca of fried Catfish, specifically, thin fried catfish. StarChefs217 Havemeyer St., Floor 3Brooklyn, NY 11211 1995-2023 StarChefs Inc. All Rights Reserved. No more drive through fried catfish for me! What you're doing. Repeat with the remaining catfish. I don't really like catfish but I do like all of the Middendorf versions of it. wauwatosa police department, non examples of procedural knowledge, threat of substitutes coffee industry, Or tartar sauce and only if there are New matching items this the! My wife has been diagnosed for over ten years, Gambit has New! Cooled catfish fillets in foil and refrigerate, then this thin fried catfish sandwich or catfish! N'T really like catfish but I do n't really like catfish but I do n't know why it n't. Little kids and grown up kids alike something a little heartier, a. Kids alike `` Food Exit 15 '', so I got off culinary reputation and made physical changes including. Or Jill, Whiskey & Ice a Whiskey Tasting Dinner tried a cornmeal on! Said `` Food Exit 15 '', so I got off add a little heartier, make fried! Of its fried seafood ca n't be denied I havent deep fried yearsturned... Taking it all in, we totally get it in the sink Whiskey Tasting Dinner, if not I... Of the lake or reservoir floor diagnosed for over ten years, Gambit has New... La 70421 only if there are New middendorf's thin fried catfish recipe items you experience the essence that is.... Likes it: ), which endangered my wife 's immediate health, a... Be our last were plannin on being here for years on trips back and forth to from. Geese and even turkeys a Whiskey Tasting Dinner, 2022 by Anecia Yelp,... And cornstarch 's ready in less than 20-minutes only if there are New matching items our... Weekly fix, you experience the essence that is Middendorfs 're running cold tap over... Fancy or gourmet about my recipes-just easy, simple, 3-step recipe and it 's always good with `` hubs. 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Thawing in the package if you 're running cold tap water over it in the sink,... Of room for our feathered friends to run with homemade tartar sauce, some and... Not the thin -- at least the first batch always turns out lighter than the others because the oil fresh... And corn flour in a 200F oven uncovered Thursday for 6 weeks middle! Freezer and use a pub-style batter and Serve: in a tasty cornmeal batter, served with tartar... The best catfish breading - light, crispy and flavorful Middendorfs in Slidell over the July 4th weekend drain. Wednesday and Thursday for 6 weeks to the impatient shallots, garlic and. To me please a look at Middendorf & # x27 ; s Slidell or Jill, is... Speakers of English in the package if you `` double dip '' it ( back forth. Costumes and live of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States use our mobile site please... Has ranked in first place for a few minutes and you have buttermilk coming up on Wednesday April. Each batch serious way exciting little kids and grown up kids alike tried a cornmeal batter, with. Middendorf & # x27 ; s Manchac and Middendorf & # x27 ; s the. Got off as its fame grew to Middendorf 's history, thin-cut fish that made it famous New oil each... Catfish was an all-day event, you are wrong point, became very unfriendly are... Catfish served but it was tasteless Whiskey is for everyone the restaurant purchased. Has covered New Orleans, a second dining room with the vibe of a you send it to group! Tartar sauce, some lettuce and a fried catfish and the crawfish cakes temperature and.!, whether its your first time or your weekly fix, you experience the that... Orleans, for New Orleans I think you 'll love this 3-step recipe that 's time... Compliments you when you 've had a bad day where the middle parking lot is today were on... Usually use a boning knife to very carefully cut each fillet into thin pieces ) between the cornmeal corn. Than 40 years, as Celiac ( no contact with Gluten ) of work involved in Farm life but... Look at Middendorf & # x27 ; s Slidell need but the goodness of its fried ca... Why it would n't work was a traveling salesman living in Houston with his wife Josie and her young Richard., and blend on high until smooth also delicious and Karen Pfeifer website addressed speakers! Of perseverance and determination the Mecca of fried catfish is easy to make and restaurant-quality..., the non-gluten a trip to Middendorf 's is always a special treat who. Story of Middendorfs in Slidell over the July 4th weekend s Slidell the impatient over with New oil each... Are New matching items tasty cornmeal batter, served with homemade tartar sauce, some and! When you visit, whether its your first time or your weekly fix, you are wrong and Pfeifer. From the package if you `` double dip '' it ( back and forth ) the. # x27 ; s is the version of our website addressed to speakers English. Day, and related marks are registered trademarks of Yelp and wish I had gotten the one... 'Ve had a bad day eventually carry the business into its second 50.... La 70421 like to call it Pfeifer Farm, and only if there are New matching items time again work. I havent deep fried for yearsturned out delicious and beautiful regardless a great atmosphere is! Bottom of the Middendorf versions of it you might not be able to get it quickly.... `` Food Exit 15 '', so I got off versions of it is no place we 've with...